Kyle's Blog

I'm Officially Ready for Break

2008-12-08T17:55:00.000-08:00

Only a week and a half to go, but I'm more than ready for break. In my way, finals...

Just telling everyone here that goes to college, good luck on finals, and enjoy your break. Study hard, then once finals are over, drink hard, and take it easy.

Only a week and a half to go...

Left 4 Dead Review

2008-12-08T13:42:00.000-08:00

Some games just sound like a dream come true, Left 4 Dead is one of them. 4 Player Co-Op, tons of Zombies to kill, and some weapons to use against them. How does Left 4 Dead stack up to this year's competition?

The game's premise is simple, you and 4 other survivors must cooperate to survive hoards of zombies. The weapons list is a little short, but the shotgun, both auto and pump, is good enough in my opinion. There are 4 campaigns that are all different in environment, setting, and the rescue finale.

The different rescue finales are what make each campaign different and worth playing. There are four different rescues: helicopter, taking off in a plane, boat, and this humvee like thing. The helicopter rescue is epic as epic can be, where zombies fly at you non-stop as you are on-top of the world on a high-rise hospital building. The best part about the rescue finales is that the zombies never stop coming. Even when you're in the rescue vehicle, they will still come at you.

Other then that fun campaigns, the multiplayer is fun, and playing as a zombie is good times. The game however falls short in graphics and lasting appeal. It's certainly fun, but its not nearly as intense as Gears of War 2.

The game is fun, and is definitely worth a pick up if you ask me. If you like old school shooter games, Left 4 Dead will appeal to you in a lot of ways.

2008-12-07T13:49:00.001-08:00

Let's Bail Everyone Out!

2008-12-04T22:21:00.000-08:00

First Wall Street and Banks, now GM, Ford, and Chrysler.

Hey, is there a line where I can wait in for a bail out? It seems like if you mess up these days, the government has your back*.

*If you are a big American corporation.

Who takes the fall for big corporation's irresponsibility's? You! Of course. I don't know where to begin. First off, GM, Ford, and Chrysler have been pumping out tons of trucks and SUV's, while Asian manufacturers have been producing more fuel efficient vehicles.

Here's an easy to follow, straight forward, simple explanation as to why GM, Ford and Chrysler are in a bad situation: Americans like to save money, gas costs money, the more gas you use the more money you pay. Whoah...what a revelation. Maybe I should work for GM, Ford or Chrysler? Only bad thing is that I wont take a $1 a year salary.

I'm sure there's more to the bailout plan, and I do not want to see thousands of Americans lose their jobs, but arriving in Washington to ask for millions of dollars in your...million dollar jumbo jet? Yeah, bad call on that one.

vLog 4

2008-12-02T22:51:00.001-08:00

My cheapo phone can do everything the iPhone can...kind of.

2008-12-01T19:31:00.001-08:00

I love watching iPhone commercials promoting the use of the iPhone's "App Store", in which you can purchase Applications that will help you in some way.

For each application Apple decides to advertise as a reason to buy the iPhone, I came up with a simple, yet logical, alternative to the iPhone.

1. Friends Application: One application Apple boasts about is a friends application that lets you know where a friend is, what he or she is doing, and allows you to send them a message. What a great breakthrough, here's my alternative: I call the person I want, ask him where he or she is, what he or she is doing, and bam....I now know. Extra convenience: I don't even need to send them a message...I can just ask them...over the phone.

2. Unknown Song Application: Ever want to know what song is playing? Easy, with the new iPhone app you can put the iPhone up to the speaker, and it detects what song it is. Cheap solution? Call your music guru, put the phone up to the speaker, maybe, or maybe he won't tell you what song it is.

3. Restaurant Finder: Choosing a restaurant based on what you want, price, menu selection, ad anything else logical is officially out of style, with the iPhone, you shake the phone to decide what restaurant you want to go to. My solution? Pick one I want to go to. Done. If I am daring and want to try a new restaurant, I can ask a friend or local...ground breaking technology at my hands.

I'm not trying to down the iPhone or Apple, but it seems that for every expensive Apple feature, there's a cheaper, logical alternative around it. Man, maybe I need to pick a new topic seeing as my previous post tore apart the new MacBooks.

P.S. I'm still a Apple fan.

Apple's new MacBooks: Step Forward? Backward? Sideways? Who Knows...

2008-11-30T19:42:00.000-08:00

I guess you can consider me a Apple fan; I like their laptops, software, and the simplistic design they employ in their products. However, I'm scratching my head at the new MacBook's from Apple. I always believed in "if it ain't broke, why fix it?" The new Apple laptops are not exactly broken, however, a lot of people were content with the previous design of the old MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Do the new Apple laptops take a step in the right direction?

I have several complaints with the new MacBooks...all listed in order of WTFness.

1. No Firewire on the new MacBooks: I don't understand it at all. My current MacBook has Firewire 400, which is great for using my external hard drive or camcorder. The new MacBook's have NO Firewire at all. That's a huge blow to anyone looking to edit videos, since most DV Camcorders use Firewire 400. I find it amazing a feature any run of the mill PC would have, a Mac doesn't.

2. Higher Price Tag: The great new addition to the MacBook line is that they added nVidia integrated graphics. While unfortunately, they're still integrated, its at least better than the Intel graphics offered on the older models. I'm scratching my head though...the other hardware remains the same, yet an increase of $300 on the MacBook? I thought the MacBook was supposed to be the affordable laptop from Apple? The MacBook starts at $1,300...which is a increase of 300 from the previous generation. You could buy a friggin graphics card for 300 bucks.

3. The new Trackpad: The new MacBooks feature trackpads made of glass, and offer no button...you literally click in the pad on your selection. The glass feels pretty nice and smooth, but the trackpad clicking throws me off. I've always used my thumb to select what I want. True, you could probably get used to it, but what's wrong with a button? Or are buttons now out of style?

4. Firewire: Again, another Firewire problem. Thankfully, the new MacBook Pro has Firewire....800. Nowhere to be found on the MacBook Pro is Firewire 400, which is a interface many people use. I just don't get why they couldn't fit Firewire 400 on there as well.

5. Display Port: Every new MacBook has a "Display Port", which is a proprietary connection for external displays from the MacBook and MacBook Pro. There's another $20 bucks you need to shell out to connect to your TV, monitor, whatever. The previous MacBook Pro's had a DVI connection, which required no adapter for most HDTVs. Not only that, but the previous MacBook Pro's included a DVI to VGA adapter, nice touch. The new MacBook's however leave the connector out, forcing you to shell out extra money, unless you want to use the new Apple displays...just be willing to spend upwards of $700 dollars.

6. 2 USB Ports: One complaint a lot of people had (Myself included) was that the previous MacBooks only had 2 USB Ports. I know Laptops are designed to be on the go, but everything runs on USB these days. Hell, even the iPod, iPhone, or any other Apple accessory runs on USB. Only 2? If you're going to re-vamp a notebook lineup, at least add more, not less.

It's hard for me to love the new Apple notebooks. They certainly look good with the new Aluminum unibody construction, black bezeled display, and a slim and sleek design, but Apple should think function before form. I think its a joke those buying a new MacBook to use to edit videos with their DV Camera are out of luck because the MacBook's don't include Firewire. Sure these are small things I am complaining about, but sometimes the small things make or break our utility of the products we spend the most on.

2008-11-29T22:33:00.001-08:00

vLog 2

2008-11-28T16:38:00.001-08:00

2008-11-24T18:03:00.001-08:00

Underrated Beers

2008-11-20T23:25:00.000-08:00

In my continuation of my love for beer, here are some good ones to grab for yourself. We already covered the way to drink like a college student in the previous post...

Here are some good beers to grab off the shelves:

Red Stripe Jamaican Lager: Red Stripe is a real good, pale lager that can be found at a good price. The bottles may throw you off, but trust me, this beer is really good. You can find it at Safeway and other grocery stores.

Full Sail Ale: There are a few version of Full Sail that I like, the LTD and the Pale Ale. I personally like the LTD better, has a bit of a bitter kick to it, and tastes really good. The Full Sail Ale Pale Ale is really thick, which makes the beer more filling.

Rolling Rock: Extra Pale East Coast beer, tastes great, very light tasting, and available for good prices. You can find Rolling Rock almost anywhere. If you want a light tasting beer for refreshment, Rolling Rock is a good buy.

Fat Tire: I have no idea how to describe Fat Tire, it tastes awesome. Fat Tire is pretty cheap too. There is a Light version of Fat Tire called "Skinny Dip", which is also real good. Fat Tire can be found almost anywhere, and the price is pretty good. Fat Tire is sold at Costco also.

Those are some beers I recommend you nab. Go Get 'em.

Beer, the College Way

2008-11-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

Beer is a great beverage, and its good to be picky and try some of the best beers you can find. However, College is a great time to buy some cheap beer, get ripped, and tear those those cheap cans like no-one's business. To guide you along your drunken voyage, here are Beers that are dirt cheap, but still taste somewhat decent.

1. Keystone Light: Keystone is DIRT cheap, we're talking 30 Packs for 12 bucks or so. If you like Coors or Coors Light, you'll probably be fine with the taste of Keystone. If you plan on getting tipsy anyway, pound down some Keystones.

2. Pacifico: Imported from Mexico, these things are cheap, and come in a big case of 20 long neck bottles. Its not light though, but its Mexican Beer, so there's not much to it. Pacifico is probably just as cheap as Keystone, so if you want to feel like you're not trailer trash, Pacifico might be the way to go.

3. Tecate: Tecate is surprisingly good for how cheap it is. Tecate Light is on the sketch side of things in terms of taste, but Tecate regular is bomb. It's a bit of a upgrade in price from Keystone or Pacifico, but in all seriousness, Tecate is good for the price.

If you want to spend a little more...If you want to stock up and just have decent beer around that wont make you fat, Coors Light fills the boot. Bud Light is also decent if you're into it. Personally, I'm a Coors guy...I live off the stuff...

Overrated:

Natural Light: This stuff is cheap, so you will be tempted to get it. A keg of Natty Light is about $50 bucks...which is damn cheap, but the thing about this beer is no matter how much of it you drink, no matter how drunk you are, it always tastes bad. You're better off going Keystone.

Overpriced:

Corona: Corona's are okay, nothing worth ranting about, but you're better off buying Coors or Bud, the price is cheaper.

And next installment of beer, we'll talk about beer that doesn't come in a can...

Gears of War 2

2008-11-17T13:10:00.001-08:00

To put it short, Gears of War 2 is a phenomenal game. The campaign is so varied and intense, multiplayer is fun and challenging, and the new horde mode is absolutely ridiculous, in a good way.

There are numerous reviews you can read out there, but I will keep it short and simple: The Campaign is out of this world. It's predecessor, Gears 1, kept the combat mostly on the ground, with only a few vehicle missions. Gears 2 changes everything by throwing the player in a large rig right off the bat. Vehicle missions are plentiful, however, almost overused.

Gears 2 outdoes its predecessor in length, Gears 2 will take the average gamer about 11 hours or so to complete depending on difficulty. Once you reach Act 4, the game seems utterly endless as you keep going on and on and on, but this is a good thing.

Multiplayer is fun, and all the new maps (save for Ruins) are good. Some controller throwing frustrations still remain: Host advantage, chainsaw melee bullcrap, and other various forms that will have you scratching your head, or banging it against a table. Still, multiplayer is fun and involves a lot of teamwork and strategy.

Gears of War 2 is a real solid game, certainly game of the year worthy. Next up: Left 4 Dead...time to take out some zombies!

Some of my most missed Sharks

2008-10-19T14:52:00.000-07:00

There are certainly a few San Jose Sharks that have departed recently that I miss.

First is Steve Bernier. He was traded to Buffalo in order to get Brian Campbell. I felt Bernier was the textbook Shark. Bernier was a offensive threat all the time, knew how to throw his weight around, and always ready for a fight.

Bernier went through a bunch of trades and is now on the Vancouver Canucks, a good fit if you ask me. In a game early on in the season, Bernier takes on one the NHL's most intimidating guys: Dion Phaneuf. While the fight was anything but epic, the fact he had the guts to go against Phaneuf is something the Sharks are going to mess. (Shelly can't fight everyone...)

A more recent departure, Craig Rivet was the Sharks number one defenseman over the season he spent with the Sharks. Rivet was a lot like Bernier, physical, big, and willing to drop the gloves. The best thing about Rivet was that he was a smart D-man, making smart passes and plays. Anyone that gives Steve Ott a beating gets a A+ in my gradebook:

I was tempted to put Mark Smith, or Vesa Toskala in the segment, but since their San Jose departure, they haven't shown anything worthy of a return to San Jose. And whatever happened to Mark Bell?

The New Sharks

2008-10-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

If you've been a Sharks fan for the past three season, its been frustrating, you know...

Over the past three seasons the Sharks fell short of the ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup. The first short coming was against the Chris Pronger and the Oilers, with hopes that the new team with high scoring Jonathan Cheechoo with assist machine Joe Thornton would bring home the cup. No, a 5th game melt-down would postpone the cup arrival at San Jose.

Fast forward another season. Hopes are high as the Sharks retain the same dominating roster that tore through the previous season. Later on, the Sharks add players Bill Guerin and Craig Rivet for a Stanley Cup push. After eliminating the Predators, the Sharks fell short against the Red Wings. Repeat of another disappointment.

Third time is a charm right? The season once again starts out with incredible amounts of hope and determination, with a dominating roster, only losing Bill Guerin. The regular season went shaky, but at the trade deadline, the Sharks added a much needed puck crafty and proficient skater Brian Campbell. It wasn't long before Campbell impressed fans with his patented, spin-o-rama move:

It seemed everything was good. Sharks won the Pacific Division, they got a contributing defenseman, and were 2nd in points in the entire NHL. Sharks fans were left with an ultimately bitter taste in their mouth, as once again, the Sharks lost in the 2nd round in a heart breaking defeat against Dallas.

The Sharks ultimately fired head coach Ron Wilson, which was touted as a desperation move by media and fan sites. Indeed, Ron Wilson had worn out his welcome. Would Sharks fan miss Ron Wilson? After all, he did have a impressive regular season record with the Sharks, numerous playoff appearances, and experience to boot.

Ron Wilson who?

Game one of the 2008-2009 Season made us forget who Ron Wilson was. The Sharks hired Todd McCllelan as the head coach over the summer, and although it may be only 3 games he has been at the helm, he's already proving that what he brings to the table is what the Sharks desperately need.

Gone are all the complicated and overly drawn out plays that Ron Wilson brought on his power play, no more soft Joe Thornton or Patrick Marleau, they're both ready to play hard and physical for the win. Most importantly, shots on net are plentiful with McLellan as coach. Todd really did put it best in a pre-game interview before his first NHL game: "Just go out there, and play hockey".

Another name Sharks fans will forget is: Brian Campbell.

It was a little bit disappointing to see Campbell go after the season was over, but Dan Boyle is the Sharks answer to our disappointment. In fact, Boyle had a spin move of his own in game two against the Kings. I overheard a discussion behind me at a Sharks game that perfectly describes Boyle: He has the skating ability of Campbell, but better puck handling and a better shot, and a Stanley Cup ring to boot.

How about Rob Blake? Head coach McLellan wants the defensemen to shoot the puck and be more offensively minded. On the power play, Blake will unload hard, accurate slap shots like he's packing a 12 gauge shot gun.

We can all honestly say, that this is truly Sharks Territory.